BANGALORE – Couples in the second-most populous country seemed exceptionally desperate to get hitched as after tying knots in PPE kits and in medical facilities, another couple booked an entire flight for a mid-air wedding to dodge Covid-19 restrictions.
This time the craze of the traditional big fat wedding goes into the skies as a couple from Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India, booked the entire flight from Madurai to Bangalore to hold their extravagant wedding in the presence of family as lockdown continued amid the skyrocketing surge of Covid cases.
The desperate couple booked the plane on May 23 with at least 170 guests in attendance. The couple then performed rituals in the presence of family and friends while the plane was over the Meenakshi Amman temple of Tamil Nadu.
Rakesh-Dakshina from Madurai, who rented a plane for two hours and got married in the wedding sky. Family members who flew from Madurai to Bangalore after getting married by SpiceJet flight from Bangalore to Madurai. #COVID19India #lockdown @TV9Telugu #weddingrestrictions pic.twitter.com/9nDyn3MM4n
— DONTHU RAMESH (@DonthuRamesh) May 23, 2021
Many of the clips of the mid-air ceremony showed the fully packed jet while the couple can be seen donning wedding attire. The footage from the unusual wedding has been uploaded on different social media accounts which later alarmed the aviation and health officials as the country reported record cases in recent times.
The mid-air ceremony faced extreme criticism as people slammed all attendants for flouting Covid restrictions. Many of the attendants including the newlywed didn't wear face masks besides breaching social distancing rules.
DGCA has initiated investigations on mid-air marriage. It has sought a full report from the airline & Airport Authority. SpiceJet crew is off rostered. Airline directed to lodge complaint against those not following COVID appropriate behavior with relevant authorities: DGCA pic.twitter.com/aTNyjIKOFO
— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Soon after the outcry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country’s top aviation body, comes into action and suspended all the crew involved. ‘We have de-rostered the crew and directed the airline to lodge a complaint against those not following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour with relevant authorities. We will take strict action’, a statement from DGCA official stated.
Meanwhile, the Indian private air carrier negated the claim to organize the wedding claiming that ‘they were unaware of the actual intentions of the passengers as passengers booked the flight for a post-wedding joyride’.
India’s overall death toll from the novel virus has crossed 300,000. The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases while the total caseload of cases stands at 26,752,447.
Pakistani rupee saw marginal improvement against US dollar as it appreciated in the open bank market.
On Thursday, the US dollar moved up and was being quoted at 285.3 for buying and 288.15 for selling.
Euro moves down to 311 for buying and 314 for selling. British Pound rate stands at 358.5 for buying, and 361.5 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED stands at 78 whereas the Saudi Riyal rate stands at 76.20.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 285.3 | 288.15 |
Euro | EUR | 311 | 314 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 358.5 | 361.5 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 78 | 78.7 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 76.2 | 77 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.2 | 189 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 759.67 | 767.67 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 209 | 211 |
China Yuan | CNY | 39.58 | 39.98 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.38 | 41.78 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.63 | 36.98 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.39 | 3.5 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.49 | 1.56 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 926.7 | 935.7 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 60.38 | 60.98 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 173.44 | 175.44 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.25 | 26.55 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 741.26 | 749.26 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 77.63 | 78.33 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 211 | 213 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 26.93 | 27.23 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 325.9 | 328.4 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.23 | 8.38 |
KARACHI – The gold price continues to climb up in the local market in line of upward trend in international market.
On Thursday, the single tola of 24 Karat gold was available at Rs218,600, and the price for 10-gram gold reached Rs187,420.
Meanwhile, the 22 Karat Gold price stands at Rs200,380, 21 karat rate for each tola is Rs191,275 and 18k gold rate hoveres around Rs163,950.
In international market, the price of precious metal hovers around $2,045 per ounce.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Karachi | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Islamabad | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Peshawar | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Quetta | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Sialkot | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Attock | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Gujranwala | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Jehlum | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Multan | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Gujrat | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Nawabshah | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Chakwal | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Hyderabad | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Nowshehra | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Sargodha | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Faisalabad | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Mirpur | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
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